Representatives of the People’s National Party (PNP) are voicing concerns that their voters are facing difficulties casting their ballots at Balcombe Drive Primary and Junior High School in the Molynes Gardens Division of the St Andrew West Central constituency due to problems with the Electronic Voter Identification System (EVIS).

A PNP liaison officer complained to the Jamaica Observer that persons were not being allowed to vote, even though their names are on the voters’ list.

“Since morning, some people have been leaving out of frustration because the process is very slow,” the officer told Observer Online.

He said at least four to five persons were unable to vote in each polling division, eight of which are at the location.

“Balcombe Drive Primary has strong PNP support, and this will only serve to depress the vote for the PNP,” the liaison officer lamented.

“I must admit that the polling station opened on time. I give them that, but it’s been a whole lot of glitches since then,” he said.

“You see nobody has gone inside to vote since you’ve been here? That’s how slow things have been all morning,” he added.

When contacted, Returning Officer Cecil Munroe admitted that “we’re aware of some issues, but they are being sorted out”. He then directed our Observer Online to contact the Director of Elections Glasspole Brown, for further comment.

EVIS is primarily used in constituencies where there have been voter irregularities in the past.

At the nearby Seaward Primary and Junior High, at a section of Olympic Way in the Olympic Gardens Division, tensions flared as lines backed up and JLP supporters charged that “is pure PNP workers in here”.

Seward Primary & Junior High (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Of note is that both the JLP and PNP are allowed indoor and outdoor agents at polling stations.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is defending the St Andrew West Central seat, which he has held since 1997. He is being challenged by the PNP’s Paul Buchanan, who previously served as MP for St Andrew West Rural.

The PNP won the first five elections contested in St Andrew West Central from 1959, when it was created, to 1976. The PNP has been represented by the likes of William Seiveright, for whom the Seiveright Gardens Division is named, David Coore and AJ Nicholson. Nicholson is the last PNP representative in the seat, having won in 1989 and 1993. The JLP’s Ferdinand Yap won in 1980.

– Lynford Simpson